It was just so repetitive and surface level, I gave up. It felt like we kept filling the space with a repeat of the same phrases and cases and the avoidance of talking about the jinx thing - for anyone - just didn’t make sense. 

Interesting and intriguing. While some of it felt a little drawn out, it was not predictable and had a good way of weaving multiple characters and situations. I enjoyed it and thought it was a really good murder mystery.  Also enjoyed all the places and things in upstate NY since I grew up in Saratoga. 

Absolutely loved this. The characters were so rich, and beautifully weaved in what was happening during the 1950s. I totally got sucked into wanting to know what was going to happen in their stories and experiences. The way the writing style varied and sort of fit each of the women too and morphed just a bit was perfect. The concept of friendship and connections changing us for the better was just so well done, and really loved the whole supper club recipes with music nuances. And of course, the backdrop of a murder mystery was fantastic.

Totally did not see that coming in the whodunit, and I loved that the most about the book. Creepy in the ghost stories, great serial-killer mystery, and loved the characters of Pippa and Chandler as they struggled with how they saw themselves and how it affected their action. Also loved the intention of how we see people who are different than we are, and the value each person deserves to have. 

2.5⭐️s. While I appreciated the look at a traditional Lebanese family and a brief look at Lebanon in the 80s, the writing was choppy and the characters inconsistent or unlikeable. The only reason I chose it and stuck with it was because it was part of a reading challenge. 

Loved this. Multiple times I literally laughed out loud. Definitely my kind of humor. But it was deep too, dealing with fear of vulnerability and self preservation, anxiety and ruminating. I related on a smaller level to Jacob and his introversion and anxiety, so I enjoyed that a lot too. 

I gave up. It annoyed me so much and there are just so many better things I want to read. Every female character in this book is whiney and petty. Especially the main character. 

She’s supposed to be a notorious (the best) assassin but she complains that the floor is too cold, that her clothes are ugly, and that no one knows who she is or compliments her. She even states that she’d “rather be hated than invisible”, and Caoel had to explain to her why it’s good to be underestimated. Seriously?? How has she even survived? Maybe she needs to think of a career change if that’s the case since that is kind of whole basis of a good assassin…. DNF at 41%

I thought it was interesting and enjoyed the fact that it was loosely based on a true story. Typically most unwed mother homes back then and even for the next number of decades were awful, corrupt places, so it was refreshing reading about a modern wholistic and progressive one in the Bethany House. 

I think it was just a little on the slower side to me, with just a little about mesmerism, but ultimately not enough that I was really struggling with a is-it-real-or-isn’t-it frame of mind, just mildly so. I think I would have liked it better if I could focus deeper on one aspect of the story rather than spread on a more surface level of things, mesmerism, murder, sex trafficking, or coercion. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine. 

A beautiful look at friendship, grit, and caring for others selflessly. The book had a thoughtful focus on loss and grief - whether thru death, lost dreams, lost expectations, or lost relationships - and what hope looks like despite that. I thought it was very well done and really thought-provoking and at times emotional. 

The treasure hunting and mystery was also intriguing and even fun. It made me curious and invested and lended a little bit of a lighter feel to the heavier nature of what Mercy and Rusty were dealing with personally. 

Loved the cameo from All the Lost Places too. Enjoyed the book throughly.

I was actually pleasantly surprised with the first half of this book. The title and cover felt kind of tacky to my taste honestly and I sort of apprehensively accepted the ARC when it was offered. However, I thought it was well written and had some good depth to it. It dealt with grief and social difficulties, and had some funny scenarios. I was enjoying a lot of the awkward situations and much of the character development. 

But the second half just tanked the book for me. The constant doormat situation with a subordinate was really frustrating for one. But mostly, the whole friends with benefits is so cringey and distasteful, not to mention completely selfish on Lark’s part, which yes, she realized and yet did nothing but constant yo-yo-ing and more selfishness. I really disliked her in the 2nd half. And the ending was a complete let down. I just don’t get it. 

All in all so much potential cuz again, the writing flowed well and everyone started out really good. But the content and then lack of substance and actual character in a main character just ruined it for me. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.